India, May 22 -- The Election Commission on Friday announced elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states on June 18. The move follows the retirement of several sitting members, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Digvijaya Singh.

According to the EC, the seats will fall vacant between June 21 and July 19, during which the elections will be conducted. The last date for filing nominations is June 8.

The elections will be held for four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, three seats each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two in Jharkhand, and one seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

Among those retiring are Gowda and Congress president ...